Control



`Nov. 1, 1938. A H WEBER Y 2,134,770 cQNTRoL Filed April 19, 1937INVENTOR. #ef/77am l/ef" BY jm/#wwf ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 1, 1938 UNITED STATES CONTROL Herman Weber, Kalamazoo,Mich., assignor to Shakespeare Products Company, Kalamazoo,

Mich.

Application April 19, 1937, Serial No. 137,779

12 Claims.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a novel andimproved structure for control devices ofthe push and pull type, wherein looseness and play of the same in theirsliding mounting in all positions is autolmatically taken up.

Second, to provide a device of the type described which is simple inoperation and the parts are inexpensively produced.

Third, to provide a device of the type described characterized byelements which automatically compensate for wear and maintain snugrunning engagement at all times.

Objects rel-ating to details and economies of the invention will appearfrom the description to follow. The invention is dened in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanyingV drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view in plan illustrating a device embodying the inventionmounted on an instrument panel, said panel being shown in section andbroken away.

Fig. 2 is a side elevationl partially broken away and in section on line2 2 of Fig. 3.l

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

The present invention relates to provisions of an exceedingly simplenature for taking up play between the relatively slidable and stationaryparts of a control device of the push-pull type, the details of whichprovisions are elementary in nature and very inexpensively produced andassembled, relying merely on the resilient action of a bowed springelement to compensate for loose rit between a slidable plunger rodandthe element receiving the same. In my structure, the factor of theeiTect of wear is reduced to zero inasmuch as the element taking up playand looseness automatically compensates for rwear on the same.

Referring to the drawing, reference numeral I indicates anA instrumentpanel upon which the control device is adapted to be mounted, the panelbeing apertured at 2 to receive a guide sleeve or tubular support 3which is threaded at 4 and provided with an annular facing or escutcheonflange 5.

'I'he reference numeral 6 indicates the plunger rod of the controldevice, the same having a tight t in a hollow head or adapter l, towhich the linger piece or handle 8 is secured.

'Ihe rod 6 is annularly grooved at 9 to provide a yoke for connectionwith the element to which controlling movement is to be transmitted (notshown) and is slotted lengthwise at IU of a width suicient to receive abowed spring wire element II, one end of which is clamped to the rod inthe slot Il) by upsetting the sides thereof to clamp the spring asindicated at I2. The other end of the spring II lies loosely in thegroove I0 within the head I and the middle por- `tion thereof is bowedupwardly at I3 to engage the inner side of the tubular support 3 with asliding frictional action. Obviously the degree of the bow may be variedto vary the amount of force exerted by the spring `I I. y

In assembled relation to the rod 6, the spring II automaticallycompensates for any looseness or play between the rod and the sleeve 3slidably receiving the same, rendering'the control device free fromrattling of any kind. In addition, it is impossible for'wear on thespring or rod to cause looseness and rattling of the parts since thespring will bow furthenoutwardly to compensate for any wear occurringor, if necessary, additional bend may be imparted to the spring toincrease its gripping effect on sleeve 3.

In the embodiment illustrated, the support has a non-circularopening-that illustrated being of hexagonal section. The spring IIengaging one of the angles prevents turning or rotary movement of thecontrol rod within its support.

The parts of the invention are exceedingly simple in character andcapable of production at very low cost.

I have illustrated and described my improvements in an embodiment whichI consider very practical. I have not attempted to illustrate ordescribe other embodiments or adaptations as it is believed thisdisclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt myimprovements as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a push-pull control device including a plunger rod having a pushbutton thereon, said plunger rod being grooved lengthwise of its axis,

end thereof engaging the rod.

2. In a push-pull control device including a plunger rod having a pushbutton thereon, said plunger rod being grooved lengthwise of its axis,the combination of means slidably receiving said rod, and means tomaintain a close sliding contact between said means and rod comprising aspring wire element lying in said groove, the ends of said elementengaging the bottom of said groove with an intermediate portion of theelement spaced substantially from the bottom and in frictional slidingcontact with the first named means, one end of said element beingfixedly secured to said rod.

3. A control device comprising a plunger rod having an axial recesstherein, a wire spring element lying in said recess and secured to saidrod, and a support member slidably receiving said rod, said wire springelement engaging the rod at its ends and being bowed medially of itslength, said bowed portion of the element being spaced substantiallyfrom the bottom of the recess and extending into frictional slidingcontact with said support member.

4. A control device comprising a plunger rod having a recess therein, awire spring element lying in said recess and secured to said rod, and asupport member slidably receiving said rod, said wire spring elementbeing bent to space a portion of the same substantially above the bot`tom of the recess, said portion extending into frictional slidingcontact with said support member.

5. A control device comprising a support having a non-circular controlrod receiving opening, a control rod slidable in said opening andprovided with a longitudinal groove, a head member sleeved on the outerend of said rod and embracing the outer end of said groove, said headmember being externally shouldered, a finger piece mounted upon saidhead member to engage said shoulder, and a bowed spring approximating inlength the length of the control rod disposed with its ends within saidgroove, the walls of said groove being clamped upon the inner end ofsaid spring lying in said groove, the outer end of said spring lyingwithin said head member, the bowed intermediate portion of said springhaving frictional engagement with said support to prevent rattling andapply friction and engaging an angle of the non-circular opening thereinto prevent rotary movement of the rod within the support.

6. A control device comprising a support having a non-circular controlrod receiving opening, a control rod slidable in said opening andprovided with a longitudinal groove, a head member sleeved on the outerend of said rod and embracing the outer end of said groove, and a bowedspring disposed with its ends within said groove, the walls of saidgroove being clamped upon the inner end of said spring lying in saidgroove, the outer end of said spring lying within said head member, thebowed intermediate portion of said spring having frictional engagementwith said support to prevent rattling and apply friction and engaging anangle of the non-circular opening therein to prevent rotary movement ofthe rod within the support.

7. A control device comprising a support, a control rod slidable in saidsupport and provided with a longitudinal groove, a head member sleevedon the outer end of said rod and embracing the outer end of said groove,and a bowed spring disposed with its ends within said groove, the wallsof said groove being clamped upon the inner end of said spring lying insaid groove, the outer end of said spring lying within said head member,the bowed intermediate portion of said spring having frictionalengagement with said support to prevent rattling and apply friction.

8. A control device comprising a support having a non-circular controlrod receiving opening, a control rod slidable in said opening andprovided with a longitudinal groove, a head member sleeved on the outerend of said rod and embracing the outer end of said groove, and a bowedspring disposed with its ends within said groove, the inner end of thevspring being xedly secured within said groove, the outer end of thespring lying within said head member, the bowed intermediate portion ofsaid spring having frictional engagement with said support to preventrattling and apply friction and engaging an angle of the non-circularopening therein to prevent rotary movement of the rod within thesupport.

9. A control device comprising a support, a control rod slidable in saidsupport and provided with a longitudinal groove, a head member sleevedon the outer end of said rod and embracing the outer end of said groove,and a bowed spring disposed with its ends within said groove, the innerend of the spring being iixedly secured within said groove, the outerend of the spring lying within said head member, the bowed intermediateportion of said spring having frictional engagement with said support toprevent rattling and apply friction.

10. In a control device including a sliding member, a support memberslidably receiving the sliding member, and means to insure a closesliding iit between the members, and prevent rattling thereof,comprising a bowed wire spring element secured at one end to the slidingmember, said sliding member having a longitudinal slot adapted toslidingly receive the other end of the element with the medial portionof the element spaced substantially above the bottom of the slot andextending into frictional sliding contact with the guide.

11. In a control device including a plunger member and a support memberreceiving the plunger member and means to insure a close non-rattlingsliding fit between the members, comprising a bowed wire spring elementarranged between said members, one of said members having a slot adaptedto receive and engage the element along the bottom of the slot, saidelement being spaced substantially from the bottom of the slot by thebow therein and extending into frictional sliding contact with the othermember.

l2. In a control device including a plunger member and a support memberreceiving the plunger member and means to insure a close non-rattlingsliding fit between the members, comprising an element arranged betweensaid members, one of said members having a slot adapted to receive andengage the element along the bottom of the slot, said element having aportion thereof spaced substantially from the bottom of the slot andextending into frictional sliding contact with the other member.

HERMAN WEBER.

